BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sharon Stephens Brehm will step down as chancellor of Indiana University Bloomington and university vice president for academic affairs effective Dec. 31. Brehm provided her resignation to IU President Adam W. Herbert on Wednesday (Oct. 29).

Herbert asked the chancellor and she has agreed to become Senior Advisor to the President beginning Jan. 1. Brehm also will undertake a thorough study of the status of women in higher education.

"I am grateful to Sharon for her service as chancellor of the Bloomington campus. She has worked on some very difficult issues, including the aftermath of September 11, expanding international opportunities for students, strategic planning processes and efforts to promote diversity," Herbert said. "I appreciate her willingness to accept a new role within the university that can give prominence to an important issue and provide me with essential advice and counsel that will enable Indiana University to maintain our leadership position among the country's most prestigious research institutions."

In her resignation letter to Herbert, Brehm said she believes the new president must develop an administrative structure that will best serve him and the university. "I have decided to resign my administrative position effective December 31, 2003, so as to give you (President Herbert) as much administrative flexibility as possible."

Brehm said her new responsibilities can assist in making a contribution to the advancement of women in higher education.

"The president and I agree we have a great opportunity to define the need and potential for establishing a more comprehensive initiative on issues affecting women in higher education," she said.

Herbert said he will name an interim chancellor soon after concluding the appropriate consultative process. The interim chancellor will serve until a search for a chancellor is completed during the 2004-05 academic year.

As a tenured member of the Department of Psychology, Brehm will be an active participant in the life of the university.